Phung Khoi Quoc Toan, a distinguished alumnus of APU American International School, has embarked on an impressive academic and research journey that spans the globe.

Graduating from APU in 2009, equipped with a solid foundation in knowledge and skills from APU's international educational environment, Toan received the prestigious Cal Murphy Scholarship for all four years of his undergraduate studies at the University of Montana, USA, majoring in Biochemistry with a strong focus on computational courses. Here, Toan demonstrated exceptional leadership by serving as an Executive Committee Member of the International Student Association from 2009 to 2013.

Continuing his academic pursuit, Toan was determined to delve deeper into Molecular Biology in a Master's program at the University of Queensland, Australia, while simultaneously engaging in various computational projects alongside his primary research. Toan not only excelled academically but also actively participated in community activities, serving as an Executive Committee Member of COMBINE - the Computational Biology Student Organization in Australia from 2019 to 2020, and as a volunteer at the University of Queensland Union.

Building on his success, Toan furthered his academic journey by pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in 2021 at the University of Queensland, Australia. His doctoral research focused on the computational aspects of studying the evolution of carbohydrate modifications in mammalian glycoproteins.

Since 2019, in addition to his research, Toan has been a Certified Software Programming Instructor with The Carpentries. He provides free programming workshops to universities, companies, and organizations worldwide, demonstrating his commitment to sharing knowledge with the community.

Toan’s academic excellence, research contributions, and community involvement have earned him numerous prestigious awards and honors:
2009-2013: Cal Murphy Scholarship, University of Montana
2012 & 2013: Diversity Council Achievement Award, University of Montana
2015: UQ Summer Research Scholarship, University of Queensland.
2016: Faculty of Science Dean's Commendation for Academic Excellence, University of Queensland.
2017-2021: UQ Research Training Scholarship, University of Queensland.
2019: Steam Cell Hackathon Winner Award, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland.
2019: HUPO Travel Award from the Human Proteome Organization.
2022: Venture Finalist, Centre of Entrepreneurship, University of Dundee.
2022: School of Life Science Innovator of the Year, University of Dundee

Currently, Toan is based in Dundee, Scotland, where he is researching Parkinson's disease using Mass Spectrometry. His groundbreaking tool, CURTAIN, with its exceptional features and broad impact, has won the prestigious 2022 School of Life Science Innovator of the Year Award at the University of Dundee. The enormous potential of this tool has been further validated by reaching the finals of the Venture competition – a prestigious platform for promising startup ideas funded by the University of Dundee. Notably, CURTAIN has received significant attention and support from Aligning Science Across Parkinson's, a reputable research network funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. This direct investment not only validates the scientific value of CURTAIN but also opens up prospects for its widespread application in Parkinson's research and treatment – one of the major medical challenges of our time. CURTAIN not only simplifies the research process but also paves the way for multidisciplinary collaboration, driving new breakthroughs in biological sciences. This is a testament to Toan's creativity and vision, representing Vietnamese scientists on the international stage and contributing to the advancement of global science.

From an APU student, Phung Khoi Quoc Toan has become a talented scientist, a dedicated educator, and a shining example of a relentless pursuit of knowledge. Although many years have passed since he left APU, Toan always cherishes his years of study and fond memories at APU and would like to express his deep gratitude to Dr. Thy Binh and all the teachers at APU who have dedicatedly guided him on his academic journey. APU has laid a solid foundation, equipping APU eagles with valuable luggage to confidently step out into the world and pursue their greater aspirations on the road ahead.

Toan's brilliant journey is not only a source of pride for the entire APU community but also an inspiration for future generations of Vietnamese students.